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WO2005101525A2 - Structures et appareils a cellules photovoltaiques - Google Patents

Structures et appareils a cellules photovoltaiques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005101525A2
WO2005101525A2 PCT/US2005/013108 US2005013108W WO2005101525A2 WO 2005101525 A2 WO2005101525 A2 WO 2005101525A2 US 2005013108 W US2005013108 W US 2005013108W WO 2005101525 A2 WO2005101525 A2 WO 2005101525A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
photovoltaic cell
light
article
film
wavelength
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2005/013108
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2005101525A3 (fr
Inventor
Isaac Berzin
Erik C. Bue
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GREENFUEL TECHNOLOGIES Corp
Greenfuel Tech Corp
Original Assignee
GREENFUEL TECHNOLOGIES Corp
Greenfuel Tech Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
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Publication of WO2005101525A2 publication Critical patent/WO2005101525A2/fr
Publication of WO2005101525A3 publication Critical patent/WO2005101525A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y10/00—Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M21/00—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
    • C12M21/02—Photobioreactors
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
    • C12M23/02—Form or structure of the vessel
    • C12M23/04—Flat or tray type, drawers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
    • C12M23/02—Form or structure of the vessel
    • C12M23/06—Tubular
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M43/00—Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus
    • C12M43/08—Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01G—CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE
    • H01G9/00—Electrolytic capacitors, rectifiers, detectors, switching devices, light-sensitive or temperature-sensitive devices; Processes of their manufacture
    • H01G9/20—Light-sensitive devices
    • H01G9/2027—Light-sensitive devices comprising an oxide semiconductor electrode
    • H01G9/2031—Light-sensitive devices comprising an oxide semiconductor electrode comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01G—CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE
    • H01G9/00—Electrolytic capacitors, rectifiers, detectors, switching devices, light-sensitive or temperature-sensitive devices; Processes of their manufacture
    • H01G9/20—Light-sensitive devices
    • H01G9/2068—Panels or arrays of photoelectrochemical cells, e.g. photovoltaic modules based on photoelectrochemical cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
    • H02S40/40—Thermal components
    • H02S40/44—Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
    • H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
    • H10K85/30—Coordination compounds
    • H10K85/341—Transition metal complexes, e.g. Ru(II)polypyridine complexes
    • H10K85/344—Transition metal complexes, e.g. Ru(II)polypyridine complexes comprising ruthenium
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
    • H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
    • H10K85/761—Biomolecules or bio-macromolecules, e.g. proteins, chlorophyl, lipids or enzymes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/70—Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/542—Dye sensitized solar cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/60—Thermal-PV hybrids
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/50—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
    • Y02P20/59—Biological synthesis; Biological purification

Definitions

  • the present involves apparatuses and methods employing transparent articles, such as solar panels, including photovoltaic cells, which may also be transparent in certain embodiments, in combination with photobioreactors and/or other structures enclosing or shielding photosynthetic organisms, for example methods and apparatuses in which light is used both for generation of electricity and driving photosynthesis, or in combination with a solar thermal energy collection device in which solar radiation is used both for generation of electricity and heating.
  • Photosynthesis is the process that converts energy in sunlight or other appropriate light sources to chemical forms of energy that can be used by biological systems. Photosynthesis is carried out by many different organisms, ranging from plants to bacteria.
  • Chlorophylls absorb blue and red light and carotenoids absorb blue-green light, but green and yellow light are not effectively absorbed by photosynthetic pigments in plants; therefore, light of these colors is either reflected by leaves or passes through the leaves. This is why plants are green. Most plants have Chlorophylls a and b. Algae on the other hand have pigments complexed with proteins (Table 1), which causes a shift in the absorption maxima to the red end of the spectrum by up to 90nm (Table 2).
  • Photovoltaic cells that are able to utilize solar or other light energy for generating electrical current flow are also known. Recently, photovoltaic cells and films have been developed that are based on dye-sensitized nano-scale particulate materials and that can be manufactured to have thicknesses and from materials allowing them to be at least partially transparent to visible light. Such photovoltaic cells and films have been described, for example, in Gratzel M., "Molecular Photovoltaics that Mimic Photosynthesis," Pure Appl.
  • apparatuses and systems comprising one or more solar thermal energy collection devices, which are configured to convert components of solar radiation, for example, infrared radiation, into heat energy, which may be utilized to, for example, heat dwellings, fluids, etc.
  • solar thermal energy collection devices have been utilized for a variety of residential and commercial water and/or air heating purposes.
  • a wide variety of such solar thermal energy collection devices configured as heat exchangers and/or heat collectors are known and are commercially available.
  • Such apparatuses and systems can be utilized, for example, as water heaters for home and/or commercial use, as living space air intake heaters, as process heat exchangers for various industrial applications, etc.; as in swimming pool water heaters, etc.
  • an apparatus or structure comprising: an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, is the article being at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis; and a photosynthetic organism capable of undergoing photosynthesis upon exposure to light of at least one wavelength to which the article is at least partially transparent, wherein the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the article.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis
  • the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and the source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • an apparatus comprising: a photobioreactor containing a liquid medium therein comprising at least one species of photosynthetic organisms, at least a portion of the photobioreactor being configured to transmit light capable of driving photosynthesis to the photosynthetic organisms; and an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, the article being configured and positioned with respect to the photobioreactor to transmit light capable of driving photosynthesis to the photosynthetic organisms.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis
  • the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and the source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • an enclosure comprising: an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein the article is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis; and a photosynthetic organism capable of undergoing photosynthesis upon exposure to light of at least one wavelength to which the article is at least partially transparent, wherein the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the article.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis
  • the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and the source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • an apparatus or structure comprising: an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, the article being at least partially transparent to solar radiation, for example infrared radiation, of at least one wavelength; and a solar thermal energy collection device, wherein the article is positioned between the solar thermal energy collection device and a source of solar radiation so that at least a portion of the solar radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device passes through the article.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of at least one wavelength and the article is positioned between the solar thermal energy collection device and the source of solar radiation so that at least a portion of the solar radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device from the source of solar radiation passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • the invention describes a series of methods. In one set of embodiments, a method is disclosed comprising: positioning an article that is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and comprising a photovoltaic cell between a photosynthetic organism and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the article.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis
  • the article is positioned between the photosynthetic organism and the source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • a method is disclosed comprising an act of: facilitating the generation of electricity and photosynthesis by providing an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein the article is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis.
  • a method comprising an act of: positioning an article that is at least partially transparent to solar radiation of at least one wavelength and comprising a photovoltaic cell between a solar thermal energy collection device and a source of solar radiation so that at least a portion of the solar radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device from the source of solar radiation passes through the article.
  • the article is at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of at least one wavelength.
  • the method further comprises absorbing at least a portion of the solar radiation with the photovoltaic cell, thereby generating an electrical current with the photovoltaic cell.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of at least one wavelength and the article is positioned between the solar thermal energy collection device and the source of solar radiation so that at least a portion of the solar radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device from the source of solar radiation passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • the method further involves transmitting at least a portion of the solar radiation comprising the infrared radiation of at least one wavelength through the photovoltaic cell and impinging the portion of the light transmitted through the photovoltaic cell on the solar thermal energy collection device, thereby transferring thermal energy to the thermal energy collection device.
  • a method comprising: facilitating the generation of electricity and the operation of a solar thermal energy collection device by providing an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein the article is at least partially transparent to solar radiation of at least one wavelength.
  • the article is at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of at least one wavelength.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of at least one wavelength.
  • the invention provides kits.
  • a kit comprising: an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein the article is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis; and instructions directing a user to position the article between a photosynthetic organism and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the article.
  • the photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis
  • the instructions direct a user to position the between the photosynthetic organism and the source of light capable of driving photosynthesis so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism from the source of light passes through the photovoltaic cell.
  • FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a solar panel comprising a photovoltaic cell interposed between a plant and the sun, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. IB is a schematic illustration of a greenhouse including a photovoltaic cell and having plants therein, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of a building including various configurations for providing articles comprising a photovoltaic cell facilitating photosynthesis by plants within the building or within enclosures associated with the building, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. ID is a schematic flow diagram and illustration of a solar water heating apparatus including a flat-panel solar thermal energy collection device including a solar panel comprising a photovoltaic cell, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a photobioreactor apparatus including a photovoltaic cell, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a transparent tube of the photobioreactor of FIG 2A taken along line B - B and showing three possible ways of associating the photovoltaic cell with the tube
  • FIG. 3 A is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a flexible, transparent photovoltaic film that can be employed to provide photovoltaic cells, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view of a transparent article comprising a plurality of stripes comprising photovoltaic cells, which may also be transparent, according to certain embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 4 is a photocopy of a Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) image of a plurality of sintered TiO 2 nanoparticles that comprise a portion of the active layer of the flexible, transparent photovoltaic film of FIG. 3
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing the absorbance versus wavelength characteristics of three similar Ruthenium-based dyes that can be utilized for dye-sensitization of the TiO 2 nanoparticles of the active layer of the flexible, transparent photovoltaic film of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 4 is a photocopy of a Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) image of a plurality of sintered TiO 2 nanoparticles that comprise a portion of the active layer of the flexible, transparent photovoltaic film of FIG. 3
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing the absorbance versus wavelength
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operating mechanism of the transparent photovoltaic film of FIG. 3.
  • Certain aspects of the present invention involve combining one or more photovoltaic cells, or articles such as films, or sheets, or panels containing such cells, with apparatuses and structures designed to contain, shield, and/or enclose one or more photosynthetic organisms.
  • the articles comprising the photovoltaic cells utilized in the context of the present invention can be of a type that are at least partially transparent to light of least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis, such as at least one wavelength between about 400nm and about 700nm conesponding to one or more absorption bands for a selected photosynthetic organism (see Table 2 above).
  • the present invention involves combining one or more photovoltaic cells, or articles such as films, or sheets, or panels containing such cells, with apparatuses and structures comprising a solar thermal energy collection, such as a solar heat exchanger or "black-body" heat collector.
  • the articles comprising the photovoltaic cells utilized in the context of the present invention can be of a type that are at least partially transparent to infrared radiation of least one wavelength, such as at least one wavelength between about 700nm and about 1 x 10 6 nm.
  • the above-mentioned transparent photovoltaic cells can comprise those of a class comprising active layer(s) including dye-sensitized nanoparticles, such as nanoparticles formed of metal oxide(s) (for example, titanium dioxide).
  • Such photovoltaic cells can be fabricated as thin film solar cells and can comprise percolating networks of liquid electrolyte and dye-coated sintered, or otherwise fused, metal oxide nanoparticles.
  • These photovoltaic cells were first developed by Doctor Michael Gratzel and coworkers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and are described in, for example Gratzel 2001(a), Gratzel 2001(b), and O'Regan and Gratzel 1991, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the materials and fabrication techniques utilized for forming such thin-film photovoltaic cells can enable such photovoltaic cells to be manufactured to be at least partially transparent to light of wavelengths useful for driving photosynthesis in photosynthetic organisms and/or to infrared radiation useful for solar heating applications.
  • certain inventive apparatuses and systems disclosed herein include an inventive incorporation of an article comprising a photovoltaic cell that, wherein the article, and in certain embodiments the photovoltaic cell itself, is partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis in a device, structure, etc., which is configured for containing, shielding, enclosing, etc., one or more photosynthetic organisms.
  • the invention also, in certain embodiments, provides for practice of a method comprising positioning such an article comprising a photovoltaic cell between a source of light, such as the sun, and a photosynthetic organism and absorbing a portion of the light incident upon the photovoltaic cell, thereby generating electricity with the photovoltaic cell, while also transmitting a portion of the incident light through the photovoltaic cell and/or article, such that it impinges upon and drives photosynthesis in the photosynthetic organism.
  • certain inventive apparatuses and systems disclosed herein include an inventive incorporation of an article comprising a photovoltaic cell that, wherein the article, and in certain embodiments the photovoltaic cell itself, is partially solar radiation, such as infrared radiation, of at least one wavelength in a device, structure, etc., which is comprises a solar thermal energy collection device and which configured for heating water, air, or other heat exchange media.
  • partially solar radiation such as infrared radiation
  • the invention also, in certain embodiments, provides for practice of a method comprising positioning such an article comprising a photovoltaic cell between a source of solar radiation, such as the sun, and a solar thermal energy collection device and absorbing a portion of the solar radiation incident upon the photovoltaic cell, thereby generating electricity with the photovoltaic cell, while also transmitting a portion of the incident solar radiation through the photovoltaic cell and or article, such that it impinges upon the solar thermal energy collection device thereby driving heat exchange and/or heat collection.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention advantageously enable both beneficial growth of plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms, which can, for example, convert, pollutants such as CO 2 and NO x into beneficial substances, for example, oxygen, and, at the same time, the generation of electricity from light, such as the sun, which can be utilized for various purposes, including, but not limited to, powering a motor, pump, computer, etc., associated with the apparatus, building, enclosure, etc. facilitating growth and maintenance of the photosynthetic organism.
  • photovoltaic cell is given its ordinary meaning and refers to any device that is configured to convert solar energy and/or artificial light energy directly into electrical energy.
  • a “photobioreactor,” as used herein, refers to an apparatus containing, or configured to contain, a liquid medium comprising at least one species of photosynthetic organisms and having either a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis associated therewith, or having at least one surface at least a portion of which is partially transparent to light of a wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis (i.e. light of a wavelength between about 400- 700 nm).
  • Certain photobioreactors for use herein comprise an enclosed photobioreactor system, as contrasted with an open bioreactor such as a pond, tank, or other open body of water.
  • Preferred photobioreactors and photobioreactor systems for use in practicing the current invention are those described in Applicant's International Application Publication No.
  • photosynthetic organism includes all organisms capable of photosynthetic growth, such as higher plants and microorganisms (including algae and euglena) in unicellular or multi-cellular form. This term may also include organisms modified artificially, such as by selective breeding and/or directed evolution and/or by gene manipulation.
  • the term "enclosure” as used herein refers to a structure providing at least one surface interposed between the thing contained within the structure and/or positioned in proximity to the structure, and a surrounding environment.
  • an enclosure would include, but would not be limited to a building structure with roof, walls, etc. completely surrounding the thing "enclosed” or a structure having only a roof, only walls, etc., at least one of which is interposed between the thing "enclosed” and a surrounding environment.
  • a variety of illustrative embodiments for providing various apparatuses, enclosures, and structures including a transparent article comprising a photovoltaic cell which in certain embodiments may be at least partially transparent to light of least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and/or at least one wavelength of infrared radiation, in combination with one or more photosynthetic organisms and/or solar thermal collectors is illustrated in FIGs. 1A-1E and FIGs. 2A and 2B.
  • the illustrated embodiments comprise simply a few of the extremely wide variety of configurations that may be practiced utilizing the teachings of the present disclosure and no more than ordinary skill in the art.
  • Suitable articles comprising photovoltaic cells, e.g. films, sheets, panels, etc. for practicing the present invention are described in greater detail on the context of FIGs. 3A-6.
  • the photovoltaic cells advantageously comprise a thin-film photovoltaic cell based upon dye-sensitized nanocrystalline particles, such as metal oxides.
  • Such photovoltaic cells can include one or more sensitizing dyes having an absorption spectra selected to absorb light, for the purpose of generating electricity, less strongly for at least certain wavelengths that are associated with in vivo absorption maximum for photosynthesis by particular photosynthetic organisms (e.g., such as certain wavelengths within the ranges previously illustrated in Table 2) and/or that comprise wavelength(s) in the infrared.
  • sensitizing dyes having an absorption spectra selected to absorb light, for the purpose of generating electricity, less strongly for at least certain wavelengths that are associated with in vivo absorption maximum for photosynthesis by particular photosynthetic organisms (e.g., such as certain wavelengths within the ranges previously illustrated in Table 2) and/or that comprise wavelength(s) in the infrared.
  • photovoltaic cells may be fabricated from materials and dyes that are selected to enable the photovoltaic cells to be able to transmit a suitable portion of incident light, of an appropriate wavelength for driving photosynthesis of a selected photosynthetic organism and/or can be fabricated from materials and dyes that are selected to enable the photo voltaic cells to be able to transmit a suitable portion of incident solar radiation, of an appropriate wavelength, e.g. infrared, for use in heating solar thermal energy collectors, during operation, while also absorbing sufficient quantities of light to enable the cells to generate a useable electrical current.
  • FIG. 1 A illustrates, schematically, a basic interrelationship between a structure, such as solar panel article 100, a photovoltaic cell (102 and/or 102' and/or 102"), a photosynthetic organism (plant 104), and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis (the sun 106).
  • panel 100 is positioned between photosynthetic organism 104 and sun 106 so that at least a portion of the light 108 reaching photosynthetic organism 104 passes through 110 the panel and, in the illustrated embodiment, the photovoltaic cell.
  • FIG. 1 A illustrates that, in typical embodiments, light 112 produced by light source 106 will be incident upon panel 100, including the photovoltaic cell, and may be partially reflected 114, while an unreflected portion will comprise the portion 110 passing through panel 100 and forming light component 108 incident upon plant 104, as well as an additional component 116, which is absorbed by the photovoltaic cell and which is utilized for producing an electrical curcent 118.
  • the source of light 106 comprises the sun
  • a variety of artificial light sources could be utilized instead of, or in addition to, the sun as a source of light energy. As indicated in FIG.
  • a photovoltaic cell can comprise a thin layer in contact with, and optionally adhered to, an external surface (as shown 102), and/or an internal surface (as shown 102'), and/or may be contained within the structure of the panel (as shown 102").
  • certain of the photovoltaic cells can comprise thin, flexible films capable of being placed in contact with, and optionally adhered to, at least a portion of a support member, such as panel 100 and/or capable of being laminated between, or otherwise contained within, the cross-section of a support member, such as panel 100.
  • a support member such as panel 100
  • it may be preferable to locate the photovoltaic cell layer as illustrated in 102" for example such that it is laminated between two transparent support layers (e.g. layers constructed of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass or certain polymeric substances), in order to protect the photovoltaic cell layer from damage.
  • a single photovoltaic cell is coextensive with most or essentially all of the surface area, upon which light is incident, of the solar panel article 100, while in other embodiments, for example as illustrated in FIG. 3B and described below, the solar panel article can comprise a plurality of photovoltaic cell regions separated by, optionally transparent, regions of the panel that do not comprise a photovoltaic cell.
  • solar panels 100 comprising photovoltaic cells 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" are assembled into a structure comprising an enclosure, e.g. a greenhouse as illustrated, which contains photosynthetic organisms therein, such as plants 104.
  • some, and optionally all, of the walls and roof panels of the greenhouse could comprise solar panels that are at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis in plants 104, and in certain embodiments, photovoltaic cells 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" are at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis in plants 104.
  • a solar panel article 100 at least the portion of which comprises photovoltaic cell(s) 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" can be assembled into or configured as a flexible sheet able to be roll-up and deployed by unrolling.
  • such solar panel article could be configured as a type of or substitute for "shade-cloth" typically used in greenhouses to shade plants from direct sunlight to prevent burning.
  • shade cloth may be mounted and/or positioned within the greenhouse so that it is suspended in a horizontal orientation parallel to the floor at a level above the tops of the plants.
  • the shade cloth may be mounted and/or positioned within the greenhouse in a variety of other ways, for example, suspended at an angle so that it is substantially parallel an adjacent to one or more roof panels, wall panels, etc.
  • such solar panel article could be configured as a type of or substitute for a shade, awning, etc. for use in a building/dwelling place.
  • various electrical components utilized in the greenhouse for example, fans, water pumps, motor(s) configured to deploy and/or roll-up the inventive photovoltaic "shade cloth,” etc. can comprise direct current (D.C.)-powered motors, so that the curcent generated by the photovoltaic cells (e.g. 102 and/or 102' and/or 102") may be fed directly to the motors so as to avoid losses that typically are incuned during inversion of D.C. to alternating current (A.C.).
  • D.C. direct current
  • A.C. alternating current
  • a solar panel article 100 may be configured so that a substantial portion of and/or substantially the entire surface area of article 100 upon which light or radiation is incident in use is coextensive with one or more photovoltaic cells.
  • solar panel article 100 may be comprised essentially in its entirety of/as a photovoltaic cell.
  • a photovoltaic cell that is at least partially transparent to at least one wavelength of light and/or radiation capable of driving photosynthesis and/or at least one wavelength of infrared radiation, depending on the specific application, such as those described in more detail below, is utilized.
  • a solar panel article 100 comprises greenhouse "shade-cloth," window or skylight/roof panel, window shade, etc. configured to admit light to an enclosure/building, etc. it may be desirable or advantageous to configure solar panel 100 as illustrated in FIG. 3B.
  • solar panel 100 comprises a plurality of regions 350 configured as stripes comprising photovoltaic cells 102 and/or 102' and/or 102".
  • Regions of solar panel 100 not comprising a photovoltaic cell may be partially or substantially transparent to light/radiation of a desired wavelength.
  • regions 352 and 354 may be configured to have different light/radiation transmission profiles than photovoltaic cell containing regions 350.
  • regions 352 and/or 354 may be constructed to be more or less transparent than regions 350 to a particular wavelength(s), creating a desirable pattern of shading and/or imparting a desirable color to the light passing through solar panel 100 and filling, for example, an enclosure or room thereof.
  • regions 352 and/or 354 not containing photovoltaic cells may be constructed of a material that is more transparent to certain selected wavelengths than are the regions 350 comprising the photovoltaic cells.
  • photovoltaic cells 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" utilized according to the invention can comprise a dye-sensitized thin-film photovoltaic cell, (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 3A) having, for example, light absorption and transmission properties as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • incident light passing through the photovoltaic cell will tend to have imparted to it a color indicative of absorption characteristics of the particular dye utilized in the photovoltaic cell.
  • the solar panel article 100 when utilized as, for example, a shade, window/roof/skylight panel, or other article configured to transmit light into, for example, an enclosure or room thereof, such coloration of the transmitted light may not be desirable.
  • the light-color shifting phenomena can be, at least partially, mitigated by configuring solar panel 100 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3B, wherein only a portion of the surface area upon which light is incident comprises photovoltaic cells 102 and/or 102' and/or 102".
  • any color change effected by light passing through the photovoltaic cells can be at least partially mitigated.
  • the width of photovoltaic cell regions 350 and their spacing i.e., the width of regions 352 can be selected such that a desirable level of dispersion of the light is created, thereby reducing any striped shading effect.
  • the width of the photovoltaic cell regions 350 and non-photovoltaic cell regions 352 to effect a desirable degree of dispersion will depend upon the particular application and may be determined readily by those of ordinary skill in the art of optics.
  • the width of the photovoltaic cell comprising regions 350 of solar panel article 100 illustrated in FIG. 3B and the spacing of these regions will depend upon the particular application and the desired properties of the light transmission through the solar panel article.
  • photovoltaic cell comprising stripes 350 are of essentially uniform width.
  • solar panel article 100 may be configured as a film, sheet, or layer, which may be flexible.
  • the surface area of article 100 comprising regions 352, and 354 not comprising a photovoltaic cell comprise about three-fourths of the total surface area of the article upon which light/radiation is incident in use, in other embodiments about half of the total surface area, in other embodiments about one-third of the total surface area, and in other embodiments about one-fourth of the total surface area.
  • photovoltaic cell comprising regions 350 each have a width of about 10 mm and are separated by a plurality of photovoltaic cell-free regions 352 each having a width of about 5 mm.
  • photovoltaic cell comprising regions 350 may be 5 mm in width and photovoltaic cell-free regions 352 may also be 5 mm in width. In yet another embodiment, photovoltaic cell comprising regions 350 are 15 mm in width, while photovoltaic cell-free regions 352 are 5 mm in width. While solar panel article 100 illustrated in FIG. 3B comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cell comprising regions 350 configured as stripes, in other embodiments where a solar panel article is configured to include both regions comprising photovoltaic cells and regions not comprising photovoltaic cells, the photovoltaic cell comprising regions may be shaped, positioned, and configured differently than illustrated.
  • the photovoltaic cell comprising regions may be configured in the shape of circles, squares, ellipses, spirals, etc. and positioned/patterned on and/or in a substrate comprising solar panel article 100 in an extremely wide variety of ways; all of which may be within the scope of the present invention.
  • the size of the greenhouse may be selected based upon the needs of a particular application.
  • greenhouse 120 may be of sufficient size to permit entry of one or more people, for example, through door 122.
  • greenhouse 120 may be smaller, for example, the size of a window box or even smaller, and may be configured to be contained within, on, or otherwise associated with, a building or other structure.
  • structure 120 may comprise a small terrarium for containing plants and/or other photosynthetic organisms.
  • structure 120 comprises a terrarium or other small photosynthetic organism-containing structure configured to be utilized in space applications, for example, as a container for photosynthetic organisms configured for facilitating CO 2 mitigation and electrical production within a spacecraft, space station, or other sealed environmental chamber housing humans and/or other animals.
  • FIG. 1C illustrates the use of photovoltaic cells, according to the invention, in the context of providing a means for generating electricity from solar energy in a "green building” 123 comprising therein, and/or thereon, photosynthetic organisms, such as plants 104, for use in converting C0 2 into O 2 in building air. While, in FIG. 1C, each of the illustrated plurality of possible configurations is shown as being part of a single green building 123, it should be understood that, in reality, one, several, all, or any combination of the configurations illustrated in FIG. 1C may be used advantageously to promote efficient production of electricity from solar energy and purification of air within a "green building” or other structure for housing humans and/or other animals according to the invention.
  • a photosynthetic organism 104 can be contained within a terrarium/greenhouse structure such as shown as 120 in FIG. IB.
  • a terrarium or small greenhouse for containing plants can be located either within (location 124) building 123, or associated (location 126) with an external surface of the building, such as roof 128.
  • a photovoltaic cell 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" can comprise at least a portion of a window 130 of building 123.
  • photovoltaic cell 102 and/or 1O2' and/or 102" can comprise at least a portion of a solar panel or screen 132 positioned adjacent to an external surface 134 of a conventional window (as illustrated) or, alternatively, adjacent to an internal surface of such window (not shown).
  • the photovoltaic cell 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" can be incorporated within and/or on a surface of a window shade 136 or horizontal 138 or vertical 140 window blinds.
  • a solar panel or screen 132 or 134 or window shade 136 may advantageously be configured as illustrated in FIG. 3B and discussed above.
  • solar water heating apparatus and system 150 is illustrated to exemplify one embodiment of an apparatus or structure comprising a solar thermal energy collection device and a photovoltaic cell, according to the invention.
  • solar water heating system 150 includes a solar thermal energy collection device 152, which comprises, in the present embodiment, a flat-plate solar collector and heat exchanger.
  • solar thermal energy collection device 152 comprises a flat-plate collector and heat exchanger
  • the solar thermal energy collection device could be configured differently and/or replaced with in a wide variety of other known and commercially-available solar thermal energy collection devices, many of which are described and illustrated at the U.S.
  • Flat-plate solar thermal energy collection device 152 comprises a solar panel article 100, which can be configured similarly to other solar panel articles described previously and illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 1 A or 3B.
  • One or more photovoltaic cells positioned and configured with respect to panel 100 as illustrated as 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" can be coextensive with at least a portion of solar panel article 100 upon which solar radiation is incident in use.
  • solar panel article 100 should be at least partially transparent to at least one wavelength of infrared radiation
  • photovoltaic cell(s) 102 and/or 102' and/or 102" may also be of a type that is at least partially transparent to at least one wavelength of infrared radiation. As illustrated in FIG.
  • solar panel article 100 comprises an outer, illuminated, surface of an enclosure 154 containing a plurality of flow tubes 156, through which a heat exchange medium flows during operation.
  • interior surface 156 of enclosure 154 may be configured as a solar energy absorber plate, which is comprised of and/or coated with a dark-colored heat absorbing material.
  • absorber plate 157 at least a portion of the outer surface of flow tubes 156 may be coated with a dark heat absorbent material.
  • solar water heating system 150 comprises a closed-loop solar heat exchanger system, comprising, as a portion thereof, solar thermal energy collection device 152.
  • a heat exchange fluid for example, an anti-freeze fluid such as propylene glycol or a propylene glycol/water mixture may be contained in closed flow loop 158 and can made to flow through flow tubes 156 contained in enclosure 154 of solar thermal energy collection device 152.
  • liquid circulation through closed flow loop 158 may be effected or assisted by a pump 160, which, advantageously, can be powered via electricity generated by photovoltaic cell(s) 102 and/or 102' and/or 102".
  • circulation pump 160 comprises a D.C. motor for improved electrical utilization efficiency.
  • water 166 contained in tank 164 could be pumped through solar energy collection device 152 to heat it directly and/or the water storage tank itself could be located inside solar energy collection device 152 and the illustrated flow tubes 156 could be eliminated.
  • the heat exchange fluid circulated through the solar thermal energy collection device may not be a liquid but, rather, may be a gas, such as air.
  • solar thermal energy collection device 152 may be utilized as part of a passive or forced air convective heating system utilized for, for example, heating the air in a home, or other building or dwelling place. While FIG. ID illustrates one exemplary configuration of utilizing a solar thermal energy collection device in combination with an article 100 comprising a photovoltaic cell(s), it will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan that a wide variety of other configurations are possible.
  • a solar heating apparatus or system comprising an article comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein the article is at least partially transparent to solar radiation, and a solar thermal energy collection device, wherein the article is positioned between the solar thermal energy collection device and a source of solar radiation so that at least a portion of the solar radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device passes through the article, could be configured in a wide variety of other ways and utilized for a wide variety of other solar heating purposes.
  • the solar thermal energy collection could be configured to comprise an outside wall of a building or enclosure covered by a dark sheet material or coating, such as a dark sheet metal material, acting as a solar heat collector, wherein a article 100 of the invention comprises a film, layer, sheet, coating, etc.
  • the dark sheet material collector may be configured to heat outside air, which is then sucked into the building's ventilation system through, for example, perforations in the collector.
  • the solar thermal energy collection device may comprise a batch heater configured, for example, as an insulated tank painted black on the outside and mounted so that it is exposed to the sun.
  • article 100 could comprise a film, sheet, coating, etc. applied to the outside of such a tank in positioned between the black, or dark-colored coating and the sun, and/or could comprise a separate stand-alone solar panel, e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 1 A and FIG.
  • FIGs. 2 A and 2B illustrate exemplary embodiments of inventive apparatuses of comprising a photobioreactor 199 containing a liquid medium 201 therein comprising at least one species of photosynthetic organisms.
  • At least a portion of the photobioreactor, 199 is configured to transmit light capable of driving photosynthesis to the photosynthetic organisms.
  • the photobioreactor apparatus 200 further comprises one or more photovoltaic cells (e.g. 102 and/or 102' and/or 102") that are at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and that are configured and positioned with respect to photobioreactor 199 so as to enable such photovoltaic cells to transmit light capable of driving photosynthesis to the photosynthetic organisms within the photobioreactor.
  • FIG. 2 A The general design configuration, operating principals, materials of construction, etc. of the basic photobioreactor 199 illustrated in FIG. 2 A is described in much greater detail in Applicant's International Application publication No. WO 03/094598 and Applicant's U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2005-0064577-A1, to which the interested reader is referred.
  • photobioreactor apparatus 2O0 comprises a photovoltaic cell layer 102" comprising at least a portion of a solar panel 100 that is configured and positioned as a screen or shade that is not in physical contact with any portion of the photobioreactor 199 that is configured to transmit light to the photosynthetic organisms (e.g. light tube 203 of photobioreactor 199).
  • optional solar panel 100 comprises a photovoltaic cell layer 102" embedded within the structure of panel 100 or, alternatively, laminated between two transparent, or partially transparent support layers 202, 204.
  • photovoltaic cell 102" of solar panel 100 can be connected in electrical communication (e.g. via wires 210) with at least one component of the photobioreactor apparatus 200 powered by electricity (e.g. liquid pump 212) and/or with at least one electrical storage component, such as a battery 214 and/or capacitor, etc., that is in electrical communication with at least one component (e.g. computer control system 216) of the photobioreactor apparatus 200 that is powered by electricity.
  • a component of the photobioreactor apparatus 200 powered by electricity e.g. liquid pump 212
  • at least one electrical storage component such as a battery 214 and/or capacitor, etc.
  • a photovoltaic cell(s) may be integrated within or provided in contact with a portion of the photobioreactor 199 itself that is configured to transmit light capable of driving photosynthesis to> the photosynthetic organisms, for example light tube 203 as illustrated.
  • light tube 203 can be configured to include: a photovoltaic cell 102 comprising at least a portion of a film at least partially covering the external, light-facing surface 218 of light tube 203; and/or a photovoltaic cell 102' comprising at least a portion of a film at least partially covering an internal surface 220 of light tube 203.
  • a photovoltaic cell such as photovoltaic cell 102
  • a photovoltaic cell can be integrated into the wall of light tube 203 in a fashion similar to that described previously for solar panel 100 of FIG. 2 A.
  • each of the photovoltaic cell layer positions illustrated in FIG. 2B are potentially optional and may be provided together or individually in any one of the illustrated locations, each of the layers, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, is shown in dashed lines.
  • photobioreactor apparatuses such as photobioreactor apparatus 200 of FIG. 2 A, can comprise part of an overall system for mitigation of pollutants contained in gas streams. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG.
  • photobioreactor apparatus 200 can Toe connected in fluid communication with a source of combustion gas 230 derived from a power generating apparatus and/or an incinerator 232.
  • a source of combustion gas 230 derived from a power generating apparatus and/or an incinerator 232.
  • such support materials may be constructed from a wide variety of transparent or translucent materials having sufficient transparency to light at wavelengths suitable for driving phiotosynthesis to permit growth of photosynthetic organisms exposed to such light, at intensities expected to be available for a particular application, incident upon the material.
  • Some examples include, but are not limited to, glass, and a variety of transparent or translucent polymeric materials, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyethylene terepthalates, polyacrylates, polyvinylchlorides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, etc.
  • such materials may also be formed from resin-supported fiberglass.
  • inventive apparatuses and systems for simultaneously facilitating photosynthesis by photosynthetic organisms, and/or heat exchange and/or heat collection with a solar thermal energy collection device, and generating electricity via photovoltaic cells enable and are amenable to the practice of methods of use also provided according to the invention.
  • the invention in certain aspects, provides a method for generating electricity and promoting growth and photosynthesis by a photosynthetic organism that comprises positioning of an article comprising one or more photovoltaic cells, which are optionally at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis, between the photosynthetic organism and a source of light capable of driving photosynthesis, so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism passes through the article and/or photovoltaic cell.
  • Certain such methods entail directing the light from the source of light, such as the sun, onto the photovoltaic cell, or a support structure/article carrying the photovoltaic cell, so that at least a portion of the light is absorbed by the photovoltaic cell, thereby generating an electrical energy within the photovoltaic cell, and so that at least a portion of the light is transmitted through the photovoltaic cell, so as to impinge upon the photosynthetic- organism, thereby driving photosynthesis in the photosynthetic organism.
  • the method can be practiced employing a photobioreactor apparatus containing a plurality of photosynthetic organisms therein, such as algae.
  • t e photobioreactor apparatus can be advantageously operated in such a way so as to mitigate environmental pollutants from a gas stream, e.g. via introducing the gas stream to be treated into the photobioreactor and at least partially removing from the gas with the photobioreactor environmental pollutant such CO 2 and/or NO x .
  • the source of such a gas stream can be a power generating apparatus and/or incinerator facility.
  • the invention in certain aspects, also provides a method for generating electricity and promoting solar thermal energy collection that comprises positioning of an article comprising one or more photovoltaic cells, which are optionally at least partially transparent to infrared radiation, between a solar thermal energy collection device and a source of infrared radiation, so that at least a portion of the radiation reaching the solar thermal energy collection device passes through the article and/or photovoltaic cell.
  • Certain such methods entail directing radiation comprising infrared radiation from its source, such as the sun, onto the photovoltaic cell, or a support structure/article carrying the photovoltaic cell, so that at least a portion of the incident radiation is absorbed by the photovoltaic cell, thereby generating an electrical energy within the photovoltaic cell, and so that at least a portion of the radiation is transmitted through the photovoltaic cell, so as to impinge upon the solar thermal energy collection device, e.g. as described above in the context of FIG. ID.
  • certain aspects of the invention involve facilitating the generation of electricity and photosynthesis and/or the generation of electricity and the operation of a solar thermal energy collection device by providing an article comprising a photovoltaic cell that is, optionally, at least partially transparent to light of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and/or that is at least partially transparent to at least one wavelength of infrared radiation.
  • facilitating or “promoting” includes all methods of doing business including methods of " education, industrial and other professional instruction, energy industry activity, construction industry activity, and any advertising or other promotional activity including written, oral, and electronic communication of any form associated with the generation of electricity via photovoltaic cells, the construction and operation of "green buildings,” the operation of solar thermal energy collection devices, and the use of photobioreactors for pollutant mitigation and/or algal growth.
  • the inventive methods of promoting or facilitating the generation of electricity and photosynthesis and/or the operation of a solar thermal energy collection device can further comprise providing instructions directing a user to position a photovoltaic cell between a photosynthetic organism and/or a solar thermal energy collection device and a source of light/radiation capable of driving photosynthesis, and/or comprising infrared radiation, so that at least a portion of the light reaching the photosynthetic organism and/or solar energy collection device from the source of light/radiation passes through article comprising the photovoltaic cell and/or the photovoltaic cell.
  • such instructions can form part of a kit also comprising a photovoltaic cell forming a least a portion of a solar panel article that is at least partially transparent to light/radiation of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and/or at least one wavelength of infrared radiation.
  • a photovoltaic cell forming a least a portion of a solar panel article that is at least partially transparent to light/radiation of at least one wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis and/or at least one wavelength of infrared radiation.
  • Instructions and directions can also include any oral and/or electronic instructions provided in any manner. Photovoltaic technology, in use for many years, was considerably improved by invention of photovoltaic cells employing the incorporation of compatible dye into a particulate semiconductor matrix.
  • This technology can enable the ability to fabricate photovoltaic cells that are very thin and at least partially transparent.
  • the selection of appropriate sensitizing dyes can enable the wavelength of light absorbed by the active layers of the photo voltaics for generating electricity to be tunable, based of the absorbance profile of the dye.
  • Appropriate dye selection and fabrication can, according to the invention, result in a photovoltaic cell having an absorbance and light transmission profile over the range of wavelengths between 400 nm - 700 nm permitting sufficient quantities of light of appropriate wavelengths to pass through the photovoltaic cell to enable the transmitted light to support photosynthesis and growth of photosynthetic microorganisms, such as plants and algae.
  • Such photovoltaic cell can, in certain embodiments, have a radiation transmission profile over the range of wavelengths between 700 nm - 1 x 10 6 nm permitting sufficient quantities of infrared radiation of appropriate wavelengths to pass through the photovoltaic cell to enable the transmitted radiation to be utilized for heating/heat exchange purposes, e.g. by a solar thermal energy collection device.
  • Certain embodiments of the dye-sensitized technology involve use of nanometer-scale crystals of semiconductor materials, for example metal oxides such as TiO 2 semiconductor, which are coated with light-absorbing dye, typically a monolayer of such dye, and which are embedded in an electrolyte between front and tack electrical contacts or conducting layers.
  • Photovoltaic cells of the type described above that are usable, potentially usable, or could be adapted to be usable in the context of the present inventions are manufactured by, and/or described in published literature by, for example, Solaronix SA, Aubonne, Switzerland and Konarka Technologies, Inc., Lowell, MA, USA.
  • the fabrication processes utilized by Konarka allows them to fabricate photovoltaic cells on lower cost, flexible materials, rather than on glass or silicon, which are used in traditional photovoltaic cells. This flexibility can allow such photovoltaic films to be used as coatings on or incorporated into panels and substrates that are curved, for example photobioreactor light tube 203 illustrated in FIGs. 2 A and 2B.
  • deposited photovoltaic thin films have the potential to provide more than a 50 percent reduction in cost relative to traditional crystalline photovoltaic cell modules.
  • Dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells can also be efficient across a wider spectrum of light than many conventional photovoltaics, making them useful both indoors and out.
  • Another advantage of utilizing the above-mentioned dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells in the context of the present inventiorxs is that the wavelengths most strongly absorbed to produce electrical energy can be controlled by the coating procedure and dye used, and may be tailored to fit the absorbance maxima (Table 2) of potentially any photosynthetic organism. In this way, it may be possible, according to certain embodiments of the invention, to achieve a solar efficiency (solar to D>.C.) of at least about 5% coupled with a solar efficiency in driving photosynthesis (solar to biomass) of at least about 10% in a combined system as described above in the context of FIGs 1A-1C, 2A-2B.
  • light wavelength control might also help in controlling the bio-population that grows under the photovoltaic cells to encourage growth of desirable organisms having absorbance maxima in regions where there is less absorbance by the photovoltaic cell and to discourage growth of undesirable organisms having absorbance maxima in regions where there is more absorbance by the photovoltaic cell.
  • certain embodiments of the present inventions can enable simultaneous generation (on the same footprint) of electricity and biomass for enhanced CO and NO x mitigation, organic nitrogen control, and water recycling. Generated electricity may also be used to supply electricity to hardware, lights, grid (converted to A.C.) etc.
  • the exemplary photovoltaic cell described comprises a thin, flexible dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell as manufactured by Konarka Technologies, Inc. Fabrication process, methods and materials of construction, configuration for use in generating electrical energy to power electrical apparatuses, etc. for these photovoltaic cells have been thoroughly described in one or more of the following patent and published patent applications owned by Konarka Technologies, Inc: U.S. Patent No. 6,706,963; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0056821; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0025934; U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
  • an individual photovoltaic cell 300 can comprises one layer of photo-active material 302 sandwiched between two transparent electrodes 304, 306 and transparent flexible substrates 308, 310 - for example indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET). If the active layer 302 is approximately 4 - 6 ⁇ m thick or less, then it can be transparent enough to allow certain wavelengths of light/radiation, which can be selectable depending on the nature of the sensitizing dye utilized (see FIG. 5 and
  • the cell can be made, in one exemplary embodiment, by first coating and drying a 5 ⁇ m layer of TiO suspension from water.
  • the particles are heated to about 110 degrees C to interconnect the nanoparticles forming a hard, sponge-like str ⁇ cture; this process is referred to as low temperature sintering and is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0056821.
  • An SEM (FIG. 4) shows the interconnected particles after sintering. The image clearly shows the interconnection of particles that is desirable for making good electrical contact.
  • Titania itself is not sensitive to visible radiation and, in analogy to silver halide photographic emulsions, dyes that absorb light in the visible region of the spectrum are added to the surface of the titania particles to sensitize them.
  • the primary function of such dye is to sensitize titania to visible light by absorbing incident photons and injecting electrons from the excited state of the dye into the band gap of the titania.
  • the dyes used for sensitizing the titania are, in certain embodiments, Ru-bipyridyls and can be chosen to based on their having advantageous absorption and redox characteristics for practicing the invention.
  • the ruthenium-based dyes (see, for example Structure I) have been developed by Gratzel , et al., over the last decade (see, Gratzel 2001(a) and Gratzel 2001(b)).
  • Structure I (full chemical name: cis- bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2 , -bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)-ruthenium (II) - designated “N3" herein and available from Solaronix SA, Aubonne, Switzerland) as described in more detail below and as illustrated in FIG. 5, has absorption characteristics - relatively low absorbance above 600 nm and an absorbance minimum between about 450- 500 nm - that are well tuned to facilitate transmission of infrared radiation and light at wavelengths useful for driving photosynthesis - see Table 2.
  • Other ruthenium-based dyes that have similarly advantageous absorbance characteristics (see FIG.
  • the electrolyte acts as a shuttle between the electrode 304 (see FIG. 3A) and the oxidized dye.
  • the counter electrode 306 which can have a thin ( ⁇ 2 nm) layer 311 of a catalyst, such as carbon or Pt ,deposited on its surface, is brought into contact with the electrolyte, laminated and sealed to complete the cell.
  • a catalyst such as carbon or Pt
  • the electron 404' exits the cell and travels through the external circuit 406 to the load 408- in this example a light bulb but it could be a motor or a battery, etc.
  • the electron 404" re-enters the cell at the secondary electrode 306 which has a thin layer 311 of catalyst coated on it.
  • Triiodide (I 3 " ) 312 is reduced at the surface of the electrode to iodide (I " ) 314. The latter diffuses back to the oxidized dye and reduces it back to its ground or original state thus completing the cycle.
  • a reference to "A and/or B" can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
  • “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items.
  • the phrase "at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements that the phrase "at least one" refers to, ⁇ whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.
  • “at least one of A and B" can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

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Abstract

Certains aspects de la présente invention font intervenir une combinaison entre, d'une part une ou plusieurs cellules photovoltaïques, ou des films ou panneaux contenant de telles cellules, et d'autre part et des appareils et structures conçus pour contenir, protéger, et/ou englober un ou plusieurs organismes à photosynthèse, et/ou des appareils ou structures comprenant un dispositif recueillant l'énergie thermique du soleil, tel qu'un échangeur thermique solaire. Dans certains modes de réalisation, les cellules photovoltaïques utilisées dans le contexte de la présente invention sont d'un type au moins partiellement transparent à la lumière d'au moins une longueur d'ondes capable de piloter la photosynthèse, et notamment une longueur d'ondes entre environ 400 nm et environ 700 nm, ce qui correspond à une ou plusieurs bandes d'absorption pour un organisme de photosynthèse choisi, et/ou au moins partiellement transparent à au moins une longueur d'ondes du rayonnement infrarouge.
PCT/US2005/013108 2004-04-14 2005-04-14 Structures et appareils a cellules photovoltaiques Ceased WO2005101525A2 (fr)

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WO2010068288A3 (fr) * 2008-12-11 2010-10-07 Joule Unlimited, Inc. Usine biologique solaire, réacteurs photo-biologiques, systèmes passifs de régulation thermique, et procédés de production de produits
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